Calculator.



R. F. GAMBLE. CALCULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 15. l9l6.

Patented June 19, 1917.

' '2 SHEETSSHEET I.

K F. QHMBLE R. F. GAMBLE.

CALCULATOR.

APPLICATLON FILED N0v. 15. 191a.

,.1 ,230,474. Patented June 19, 191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 R V avwzmtoz R F GHMBLE mum;

ROBERT F. GAMBLE, OF SHELBY, MISSISSIl ZPI. v

CALCULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11119, 19, 1917,

Application filed November 15, 1916. Serial No. 131,481.

, ence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved calculator and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character particularly designed for use in ascertaining the date of expiration of subscriptions of newspapers, magazines and similar periodicals.

The invention has for another important object to provide a calculator for the purpose stated, which also serves as a'convenient record or index card cabinet upon which the names, addresses and length of subscriptions of the several subscribers are written or printed.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide a calculating device including a base having a fixed, perpendicular rod or spindle thereon, a disk secured upon said spindle and having the months of the year indicated upon its surface, alarm bells supported upon said disk, a second disk rotatably mounted upon the spindle and provided with card supporting racks, keys on the latter disk to operate the alarm bells, and a pivotally mounted member on the fixed disk carrying cards indicative of the year in which the subscription expires.

It is a further general object of my invention to provide a calculator which may be easily and quickly manipulated and'which occupies but little space and may be manu-' Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4:

of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates a base to which the lower end of a vertical rod or spindle 6 is suitably fixed. The upper portion of this spindle is reduced in diameter, as at 7, and longitudinally bored to receive the axis 9 of a rotatable disk 8. This disk is centrally provided with a hub 11 having a raceway to receive bearing balls 12 arranged in a complementaryraceway formed on the upper end of the spindle. A second relatively large disk 13 is seated upon the'shoulder formed by reducing the upper end of the spindle and suitably fixed thereto. The retaining screw 14 is threaded in the spindle for engagement at its inner end in an annular groove formed in the axis 9. g

The upper surface of the disk 8 is divided by radial lines into twenty-six spaces of equal area, in which the letters of the alphabet are printed upon the surface of the disk. Adjacent to the outer edge of the disk, spaced, upstanding pins 15 are fixed thereto in each of said spaces. The index or record cards, indicated at C, have their ends perforated for engagement upon these pins. The pins maybe of such length as to contain any desired number of the cards, and it will be understood that the cards are arranged upon the respective pairs of pins in accordance with the first letter of the surname of the subscriber.

The upper surface of the lower disk 13 is also subdivided by radial lines, and on each Upon this latter disk, in each of the subdivisions of its surface, a bell or other alarm device 17 having a vibratory spring hammer 18, is suitably mounted. Operating keys 19 are vertically movable through the upper disk 8, the number of such keys corresponding to the number of card racks. Each of these keys has a lower end portion 20 of triangular form, and said keys are normally projected upwardly through the disk by the leaf springs 21 fixed at one of their ends to the under sides of the disks and having their otherends connected to the respective keys. f

At the outer edge of the lower disk 13, where the month of December is indicated, an opening 22 is provided. A cylindrical cup 23 disposed beneath this opening, is fixed upon one end of a rod 24, pivoted as at on a bracket suitably fixed upon the disk. The other end of said rod is projected upwardly, as at 26, through an opening in the edge of the disk. In the cup a plurality of paper disks are adapted to be arranged, each having numerals there-on indicative of successive years. The side wall of this cup is preferably slotted, as at 27, so that the disks can be readily removed therefrom. The cup is provided with a threaded cap 28 having a sheet of celluloid or other transparent material secured therein, through which the numeral on the uppermost card disk is visible.

A suitable operating crank 29 is fixed to the hub of the disk 8, whereby the latter may be conveniently rotated.

In the operation of the device, the cards of the subscribers are arranged in alphabetical order upon the disk 8 in the manner stated. Assuming that it is desired to ascertain when the twelve months subscription of John Doe will expire, the card is found in the cup or rack D, F1 2, which card contains the information that the subscription commenced on January 5, 1916. The upper disk is then rotated to the right until this particular rack is above the month of January indicated upon the lower disk. The key rod 19, associated with said rack, is then depressed. and the disk turned to the right so that the key will operate the bells on the lower disk. lVhen twelve of the alarm bells have thus been actuated, the rack will again be positioned over the month of January and the operator then forces the end 26 of the rod 2% downwardly to elevate the cup through the opening in the edge of the disk 13, thus exposing the card bearing the year number 1917 to view. It. is thus shown that the subscription will expire in January, 1917. The year indicating cup is, of course, only-used when the subscription extends over into the ensuing year. Thus, in finding the expiration of a six months subscription connnencing in July, and a three months subscription commencing in October, the year indicating cup is used, but for subscriptions commencing in other months for less than a year when the period of subscription does not extend into the ensuing year, the cup is not actuated.

From the foregoing des a'iption, taken in connection with the accompany drawing, the construction, manner of use and several, advantages of the device will be clearly and fully understood. By means of my invention, the month and year of the expiration of a subscription may be very quickly ascertained, it being only necessary to first find the date on which the subscription commenced and then properly position the rack on the rotatable disk. The rotation of the disk being then reversed, the operation of the spaced alarm is noted and when the number of alarms corresponding to the month subscribed for have been sounded the subscribers rack will be disposed above the month of expiration of his subscription indicated on the lower disk. I have herein described an arrangement and mounting of the indicator disks which I have found very satisfactory, but it will be understood that such arrangement, as well as the form and construction of the several other elements employed, may be greatly modified, and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. A calculator of the character described including a fixed disk having the months of the year indicated thereon, a rotatable rack mounted above and in spaced relation to the fixed disk, and a plurality of alarm devices corresponding in number to the months of the year successively actuated in the rotation of said rack.

A calculator of the character described including a fixed disk having the months of the year indicated thereon, a rotatable disk mounted above the fixed disk, a plurality of card racks on the rotatable disks, alarm devices on the fixed disk corresponding in number to the months of the year, and an actuating element for all of said alarms mounted upon the rotatable disk adjacent to each rack, whereby the alarms are successively actuated as the rack disk is rotated.

3. A calculator of the character described including a fixed disk having the months of the year indicated thereon, a rotatable disk mounted above the fixed disk, a plurality of card racks on the rotatable disk, alarm devices on the fixed disk corresponding in number to the months of the year, an actuating element for all of said alarms mounted upon the rotatable disk adjacent to each rack whereby the alarms are successively actuated as the rack disk is rotated and a pivotally mounted indicator element arranged on the outer edge of the fixed dis-k.

A calculator of the character described including a fixed disk having the months of the year indicated thereon, a rotatable disk mounted above the fixed disk, a plurality of card racks on the rotatable disk, alarm devices on the fixed disk corresponding in number to the months of the year, an actuating element for all of said alarms mounted upon the rotatable disk adjacent to each rack, whereby the alarms are successively actuated as the rack disk is rotated, a rod pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the outer edge of the fixed disk, a con tainer on one end of said rod to receive a plurality of superposed indicating disks, said container moving by gravity to a 'normal position below said fixed disk and adapted to be actuated by the depression of 10 the other end of the rod to expose one of the indicating disks in the container to View.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT F. GAMBLE. Witnesses:

WALTER WILKINSON,

J. W. MORRIS.

Copies of this patent ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

